The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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July 4, 2006

Families spread word about juvenile diabetes

Others can join non-profit group

By Monica Pryts

HERMITAGE — Three Hermitage families with children with juvenile diabetes have formed a nonprofit group to raise money and awareness for the disease.

Team Courage Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, which is affiliated with Shenango Valley Foundation and part of the national Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is in its second year.

Chad and Amy Javens, whose 8-year-old daughter Delaney has diabetes, started the group in 2005 with the Meyerowich and Hammond families in hopes of educating each other and the public about juvenile diabetes and helping to find a cure. Delaney; Eric Meyerowich, 6; and Maddison Hammond, 4, all have Type I diabetes.

The idea to form the group came about two years ago, when the Javens and Meyerowich families participated in an American Diabetes Association walk. Delaney collected money in a can from friends and family for diabetes research, which encouraged her parents to take it one step further.

“If she was willing to do this, we can support her. That’s when Team Courage started to blossom,” Javens said.

Eric created the name for the group, which also has a wristband with their motto “Courage today — Cure tomorrow,” Mrs. Javens said. The three families are the only current members and they hope more local families affected by juvenile diabetes will join.

“We’d love for it to grow. There’s not a strong local presence,” Javens said.

Team Courage isn’t trying to compete with national diabetes groups. They donate all the money they raise to national organizations, mainly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which puts the most money into diabetes research, Mrs. Javens said.

“We believe that’s more bang for our buck,” she said.

More than 13,000 children are diagnosed with Type I diabetes each year, meaning their bodies can’t produce insulin, Javens said. Delaney receives insulin through a pump that enters her body through a small, flexible tube under her skin. Other children take multiple insulin injections each day.

People with Type II diabetes produce insulin but their cells resist it, Javens said. The general public often has misconceptions about the two types of diabetes. Type I must be controlled by insulin, while Type II can be controlled by diet and exercise.

The exact causes of each type are unknown but studies show obesity can lead to people developing Type II later in life, Mrs. Javens said.

There is no cure for either type and complications of diabetes include kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, limb amputations, heart attacks and stroke, Javens said.

That’s not discouraging the Javens family, though. Delaney is a brave girl and has no trouble taking care of herself and her pump.

Mrs. Javens hopes other children with diabetes will be inspired by Delaney.

Team Courage is holding its Second Annual Juvenile Diabetes Jimmy Buffett Benefit Bash at 5 p.m. July 15 in Mercer County Shrine Club, 4201 Lamor Road, Hermitage. There will be food, drinks, Jimmy Buffett music, prizes and a Chinese auction.

Will Cross, the only diabetic person to have climbed the North and South poles and Mount Everest, will speak.

All proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $5 for ages 4 through 12; and free for kids 3 and younger. Tickets or donations: The Meyerowich family, 724-346-2526; Javens family, 724-962-0881; or Hammond family, 724-346-0263. Make donation checks payable to Team Courage and send to 1473 Hofius Lane, Hermitage 16148.

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